Lutung Kasarung

Prabu Tapa Agung had led a kingdom in West Java for a long time. He
was getting old and therefore wanted to choose a successor. But
unfortunately, he had no son. He thought of choosing one of his
daughters, Purbararang and Purbasari. But it wasn’t an easy choice.
They were both very pretty and smart. The only difference was their
temperament. Purbararang was rude and dishonest, while Purbasari
was kind and caring. With those considerations, Prabu Tapa Agung
finally chose Purbasari to be his successor.

Purbararang didn’t agree with her father’s decision. “It’s supposed to

be me, Father. I’m the eldest daughter!” Purbararang said. Prabu Tapa
Agung smiled. “Purbararang, to be a queen takes more than age. There
are many other qualities that one must possess,” explained Prabu
Tapa Agung wisely. “What does Purbasari have that I don’t?”
Purbararang pouted. “You’ll find out when Purbasari has replaced
me,” Prabu Tapa Agung answered.

After the discussion, Purbararang went back to her room. “Is there
something wrong?” asked Indrajaya. Indrajaya is Purbararang’s future
husband. “I’m upset! Father chose Purbasari as his successor and not
me! I have to do something!” Purbararang said. Driven mad by her
anger, she came to a witch and asked her to send rash all over
Purbasari’s body. Before going to bed, Purbasari started to feel itch all
over her body. She tried applying powder to her body, but it’s no use.
Instead, the itching grew even worse. She didn’t want to scratch it, but
she just couldn’t help it. In the next morning, there were scratch mark
all over Purbasari’s body. “What happened to you?” asked
Purbararang, pretending to be concerned. “I don’t know, sis. Last
night, my body suddenly felt very itchy. I scratched and scratched, and
this is what happened,” Purbasari answered. Purbararang shook her
head. “You must have done something really awful. You’ve been
punished by the gods!”

That day, the whole kingdom was scandalized. “What have you done,
Purbasari?” demanded Prabu Tapa Agung. Purbasari shook her head.
“I didn’t do anything that would upset the gods, Father,” she
answered. “Then how can you explain what happened to your body?”
Prabu Tapa Agung asked again. “If you don’t confess, I’ll banish you to
the woods.” Purbasari took a deep breath. “Like I said before, I didn’t
do anything wrong. And I’d rather be thrown into the woods than to
confess to a deed I didn’t commit.”

After a short discussion with his advisor, Prabu Tapa Agung ordered
Purbasari to be moved to the woods. Purbasari was very sad, but she
couldn’t do anything to defy her father’s order. She was accompanied
to the woods by a messenger. He built a simple hut for Purbasari.
After the messenger left, suddenly a black monkey came to Purbasari’s
hut. He carried a bunch of bananas. From behind him, some animals
looked on. “Are the bananas for me?’ Purbasari asked. The black
monkey nodded, as if he understood what Purbasari said. Purbasari
took the bananas with pleasure. She also said thanks. The other
animals that were looking on also seemed to smile. “Are you willing to
be my friend?” Purbasari asked them. All the animals nodded happily.
Although she was living by herself in the woods, Purbasari never
lacked of supplies. Everyday, there were always animals bringing her
fruits and fish to eat.

A long time had passed since Purbasari was banished to the woods,
but her body still itched. At some places, her skin was even ulcerating.
“What am I supposed to do?” Purbasari sighed. The monkey who was
sitting next to her stayed still, there were tears in his eyes. He hoped
Purbasari would remain patient and strong.

One night, on a full moon, the monkey took Purbasari to a valley.

There is a pond with hot spring water. The monkey suddenly spoke,
“The water of this pond will heal your skin,” he said. Purbasari was
surprised, ”You can talk? Who are you?” she asked. “You’ll find out, in
time,” the monkey said. Purbasari didn’t want to force the monkey.
She then walked to the pond. She bathed there. After a few hours,
Purbasari walked out of the pond. She was shocked to see her face
reflected on the clear pond water. Her face was beautiful again, with
smooth and clean skin. Purbasari observed her entire body. There
were no traces of any skin ailments. “I’m cured! I’m cured!” Purbasari
shouted in joy. She quickly offered thanks to the gods and also to the
monkey.

The news of Purbasari’s condition quickly spread to the kingdom,

irritating Purbararang. She then accompanied by Indrajaya go to the
woods to see Purbasari. Purbasari asked if she would be allowed to go
home. Purbararang said she would let Purbasari return to the palace if
Purbasari’s hair were longer than hers. Purbararang then let her hair
down. It was so long, it almost touched the ground. But it turned out
that Purbasari’s hair was twice longer than Purbararang’s hair.

“Fine, so your hair is longer than mine.” Purbararang admitted. “But

there is one more condition you must fulfill, do you have a future
husband who is handsomer than mine?” said Purbararang as she
walked toward Indrajaya. Purbasari felt miserable. She didn’t have a
future husband yet. So, without much thought, she pulled the black
monkey beside her.

Purbararang and Indrajaya burst out, but their laughter didn’t last
long. The monkey mediates and suddenly transformed into a very
handsome young man, a lot more handsome than Indrajaya. “I’m a
prince from a kingdom far away. I was cursed to be a monkey because
of a mistake I committed. I could regain my true form only if there’s a
girl who would be willing to be my wife,” said the young man.

Finally, Purbararang gave up. She accepted Purbasari as the queen,

and also confessed everything she had done. “Please forgive me.
Please don’t punish me,” Purbararang said, asking for forgiveness.
Instead of being angry, Purbasari smiled. “I forgive you, sis,” she said.
Soon after, Purbasari become queen. Beside her was the handsome
prince, the former monkey known as Lutung Kasarung.

Source:https://feradesliaahyar.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/10-cerita-
rakyat-dalam-bahasa-inggris/

Samantha Surjana X IPA